How to paint skin colors in a dark complexion portrait. Portrait painting by Ben Lustenhouwer.

Portrait painting: A simple and easy way to understand the approach to mixing dark skin tone. By Ben Lustenhouwer.
Many people have asked me to explain the basic colors of a dark skin complexion.
There are of course countless variations of a dark skin tone. More than a fair skin. I tried to approach the composition of the colors of this skin colors as elementary as possible.
Perhaps in the future I will pay attention to a lighter version of the tinted skin.

It is my intention to publish more of everything I know about portrait painting .
And I want this information to be free for everyone. Some compensation for my efforts comes from the publicity which you see appearing occasionally. I hope you don't find it too annoying.
Until now I received the most nice and grateful reactions from all over the world.
And that gives me a lot of satisfaction.

[HeavenBrothers]

Many painters are afraid or too lazy to do dark complexions. It is truly a complicated and at the same time, a symphony of deep colors waiting to be blended. Once it's all done, timeless beauty begins.

[anpdm]

I did not learn to paint dark skin in college. I've been struggling with a portrait for 14 months, a gift for my niece. Thanks for this demo, perhaps I can finish it now. As an art student, I find it quite the quandary talking about black skin, when my pallet is varying blends of brown.

[megantheescammer]

Dannnggg who was his reference. The man in the painting is finnne asf

[menzian]

Thank you Ben. I used your three color zones video to help me with a portrait based on my grandfather who had red-toned dark brown skin like me. I had used cadmium as the default high midtone, burnt sienna as the low midtone, and ultramarine with the reds and browns to build some shadows and cools so it's good to see i was on the right track! I appreciate your careful method. Thank you for your generosity!

[bradharper]

This lesson has me motivated to try out a dark complexion portrait. I hope to learn more about reverse shading using these instructions. Thank you for showing it.

[charlespinkney]

This is the most comprehensive portrait demonstration ever presented. Thank you

[jeffvalona]

Today more than ever is easier to become the best artist that you can master. Everything is out there in social media. One just have to take it. And it is for FREE. It is with great gratitude that I leave this comment. Thank you Ben. A great portrait artist and a fantastic human being.

[mmca]

Wow I'm so grateful to have a painting video for skin like mine, very helpful! Thank you 😊

[eileenjasonmalone]

Seems appropriate you should paint a black person this week, i suppose it wasn't your intention but for me it's in memory of George Floyd so thank you anyway 💛

[taralynvonderlinden]

Wow, thank you for this! I always learn and read about portrait painting as it pertains to lighter skin tones, this is a first - thank you!

[LadyAstarionAncunin]

I'm building up my confidence to do my first oil portrait. I really want to do it tomorrow; I've already prepared my canvas. This helps me, thank you!

[aminakishk]

Absolutely stunning.. will always remember that dark skin has many more colors than you think...it becomes poetically beauty the way you do it...

[fraaappuccino]

Thank you very much Ben, I'm also a young professional who discovered you during this quarantine season and am grateful of these wonderful videos you share. They are simple yet so helpful and easy to understand. I even think it is from your channel that I'm learning about portrait painting the most than from anyone else–truly! All the best to you sir, and much love from the Philippines.

[bilalitani]

I’ve never been so satisfied by understanding the way colour works. It’s magical ✨ thank you sir

[beatrixpendragon]

It's amazing how dark skin is composed of so many beautiful colors

[JessyingAround]

I just found this channel and I'm rlly glad
2nd video I'm watching
Love how you explain things
Perfect for beginners (like myself) who are still figuring out things like color theory, how to mix colors, how to paint skin, how not to make muddy shadows, etc.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
I really appreciate it 💛🙌🏾

[ehuntster]

Wish the instruction at the end wasn't sped up with music... loved hearing you talk throughout the process, such valuable information. Thanks.

[anilkatta]

Most valuable tips for dark complexion 🎨

[mikeb]

I like your tutorials and style of painting very much and this one is very timely as I am about to attempt a portrait of a dark skinned person also your tips on how to get a good photo to work from will help to make it interesting, thank you for all your help.

[RobertF-]

Hello sir. I am a huge fan of your work and your teaching. I think it's really brilliant. What you said about working with the colors is ingenious.

I hope you don't mind but I have a comment. This painting is really amazing, the colors are fantastic. I just feel like I have to say that the stage that the painting was in at
22:01 precisely, was even more incredible at that point. Even though the contour along the jawline was a bit jagged and the brush strokes were more bold and unblended, I believe it looks more powerful that way. It looks like a Rembrandt, especially one of his later works where he worked in a very bold and striking way with huge brush strokes left untouched and unblended.

I really hope you don't mind me saying so. It's just that at that stage the painting truly looked even more stunning than it already does.